Loss of wind tax credit will cost jobs

Surely, as the election season heats up, politicians will extol the American people on the need for domestic jobs (and hopefully work toward this goal). Surely, as the Midwest faces massive drought and extreme heat — which may last until October — the debate over climate change will reignite. Surely, in a stalled economy, our business and political leaders will be doing everything in their power to create jobs and resurrect our economy.

Fortunately, the wind industry can help solve these problems — it may not solve them completely, but it can be an important part of a solution. Across all 50 states, 75,000 jobs are supported by the wind industry — and this is still an infantile industry, with room for growth. In Illinois alone, the wind industry creates between 5,000 and 10,000 jobs.

Illinois is the fourth-largest wind energy producer, just behind California. More importantly, Illinois has “great potential to increase” — that means more jobs, more energy, and cleaner air for the citizens of Illinois.

Unfortunately, these jobs and this future are up in the air due to the expiration of a particularly important wind energy bill, the Production Tax Credit, which provides stability and support for this growing industry. Without it, tens of thousands of jobs will be lost.

While Congress is unwilling to cut $2 billion of annual subsidies to the big oil companies, many members of Congress seem to be willing to let the Production Tax Credit expire, which will mean more people out of work and less clean energy for our kids’ future. All of Chicagoland’s representatives should protect Illinois’ jobs and public health by supporting the federal tax policy that provides long-term support for the wind industry.

It is time to invest in American-made jobs and an American-made future.

Joseph Arcus

Grayslake